Donegal County Council Logo
Home > Your Council > Communications Office > Press Releases from Jan 2020 > Sliabh Liag Distillers and Donegal County Council’

01/05/20 Sliabh Liag Distillers and Donegal County Council’s Civil Defence join forces in the Great National Effort.

Slieve Liag Civil Defence

 

Donegal’s Sliabh Liag Distillers are joining the national effort to fight COVID-19 by pivoting production from their award-winning spirits to make hand sanitiser for Donegal's hospitals, essential services and front-line staff.

 

The company have pledged to donate the first 1,000 litres to Donegal’s essential services with the help of Donegal County Council’s Civil Defence who will distribute the donated hand sanitiser to healthcare facilities across Donegal on their behalf.

 

“We’re delighted to be able to use our production facilities at the distillery in An Charraig to produce hand sanitiser from this week”, said director Moira Doherty. 

 

We have scaled back our normal production and diverted our attention to supporting front-line staff in their unprecedented efforts to protect us from the spread of this virus.”

 

“Hand sanitiser is essential for our health service, but it must be made of a minimum 60% alcohol to be effective. We realised we are in a unique position to help our local services and community here in Donegal and we’re donating 1,000 litres to Donegal’s essential services.” she said.

 

“We have been working with Rosaria at Algaran Teoranta in Gleann Cholm Cille, utilising her extensive knowledge to create an effective sanitiser at 70% alcohol, enriched with local seaweeds to make it kinder to the skin.”

 

“To meet the public demand, it’s essential that hand sanitiser is available and the fact that we can produce it locally will help mitigate against any supply chain issues that may arise down the line. Donegal County Council and the Revenue have been supportive of this project from the outset."

 

“There is an overwhelming sense of community in Donegal, which is why we chose it as our home. We are all in these uncertain times together and as a former midwife, I’m delighted to be able to do our bit for our front-line staff and health-care workers, to help protect them as they save lives.” Mrs. Doherty added. “and for members of the public in the locality we will organise a click and collect service from the on-line shop”

 

Meanwhile, in spite of the global pandemic, the directors at Sliabh Liag Distillers are pressing ahead with plans for the new distillery in Ardara. “It is unlikely we will be open this year with the restrictions that are currently in place” said Managing Director, James Doherty “but we have commenced work on the site and remain resolute that, as soon as possible, we will build the whiskey distillery and get into scale production of Irish Whiskey in Ard an Rátha.”

 

“Earlier in the year, we launched our Seanchaí Cask programme where people can purchase the first casks from the distillery and it has been particularly rewarding to welcome to the family the first of our 600 Seanchaí Cask Owners. They are helping us build the distillery and are a key part of the history and success of the company.”

 

Based in west-Donegal, on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Sliabh Liag Distillers continues its innovation drive and has released Dark Silkie, a dry smoky expression of the acclaimed Silkie Irish Whiskey and An Dúlamán Santa Ana Armada Strength Gin. Shortly after its release, An Dúlamán Santa Ana Armada Strength Gin was awarded silver in the Navy Gin category of the World Gin Awards, while Moira Doherty was also shortlisted for Distiller of the Year.

 

Moira says it is an honour to be recognised at an international level: “It’s fantastic to be recognised among some of the best gin brands in the world. Our An Dúlamán Santa Ana Armada Strength Gin has a really rich story, with a strong connection to Donegal, so we’re delighted to be sharing that with gin lovers around the world.”

 

The distillery’s other brands include The Legendary Silkie Irish Whiskey, An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin and Assaranca Vodka, which was released in 2019. Sliabh Liag Distillers is committed to reclaiming the distilling heritage of Donegal and plans to release The Sliabh Liag Donegal Single Malt Irish Whiskey and Donegal Pot Still Irish Whiskey when it reaches maturation.

 

For more information on Sliabh Liag Distillers visit www.sliabhliagdistillers.com.

Rate this Page

Select an option below

Map Services

Map Portal

  • winterweather Image
  • NWGreenway network icon
  • Donegal Tourism Logo
  • Rennet Image
  • NPPR Logo
  • Donegal Gathering Logo
  • Donegal Diaspora Logo
  • Public Art logo
  • Regional Cultural Centre logo
  • Spaceial logo
  • IrishWater
  • LEO